King opens first Jordan-China Business Forum in BeijingBeijing, 17 September 2013

His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday emphasised the importance of Jordan’s continued drive towards democratic reform and noted that the Kingdom has maintained an attractive environment for foreign investments despite regional challenges.

At the opening of the first Jordan-China Business Forum in Beijing, King Abdullah reiterated that Jordan is keen to strengthen bilateral ties in all fields.

Jordan’s reform process is continuing in an evolutionary, balanced and comprehensive manner at the political, economic and social levels, the King told the forum.

His Majesty said that, despite the global economic crisis and the challenges that the Middle East is facing, Jordan has maintained an attractive, secure and stable climate for investors, emphasising the key role the private sector is playing in boosting the investment environment.

During the forum, organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and attracting representatives from China’s mega-companies and economic institutions, along with Jordanian peers, the King urged Chinese businessmen to take part in vital projects in the Kingdom in the fields of energy, water and transport, noting that Jordan represents a gate to reach more than one billion consumers around the globe, thanks to its free trade agreements with key countries and regions.

His Majesty invited Chinese businessmen to visit the Kingdom and build on the forum’s recommendations to develop a stronger partnership with their Jordanian counterparts in the industrial and commercial sectors.

Jordan is continuously working to ease obstacles that may hinder the development of cooperation, especially in the fields of the economy and commerce, the King added.

Several ministers and officials, as well as a delegation of 40 Jordanian businessmen representing the sectors of renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing industries, participated in the forum.

CCPIT Chairman Wan Jifei expressed appreciation for His Majesty’s support for efforts to promote Chinese investments in the Kingdom, highlighting the prospects of economic cooperation, which, he said, are strengthened by the “solid bonds between Jordan and China and the agreements between them.”

Jifei also expressed hope for further efforts that will boost the trade volume between the two countries, commending the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s business environment.

In 2012, the Kingdom’s exports to China amounted to JD132 million while its imports from China totalled more than JD1 billion. Until 2012, around $93 million worth of Chinese investments benefited from Jordan’s Investment Promotion Law.

Meanwhile, the King also met with several political, intellectual and academic Chinese figures on Tuesday during a visit to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, where he highlighted the historic ties and strategic cooperation between Jordan and China.

At the academy, considered one of the most important intellectual institutions in Asia and the world, the meeting focused on Middle East developments, especially the peace process and the crisis in Syria.

His Majesty reiterated Jordan’s support for the two-state solution as the sole means to end decades of conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis and to achieve just and comprehensive peace.

He highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to assist Syrian refugees, stressing the importance of international support to help Jordan continue to provide humanitarian aid to those in need.

Cautioning against the dangers of sectarian conflict, the King cited the recommendations made at the conclusion of the 16th General Conference of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, held last month in Amman, which called for reconciliation, more interfaith dialogue and casting away sectarian violence.

Wang Weiguang, the academy’s president, commended the His Majesty’s vision and wisdom in dealing with regional challenges and his leadership in the reform process in Jordan.

At the meeting, several Chinese intellectual figures expressed appreciation for the Kingdom’s contributions to global peace and security.

The King also met with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi, with whom he discussed ways to boost bilateral relations and regional developments, especially the repercussions of the Syrian crisis and Middle East peace efforts.